How NOT to Respond to the Blasphemy in Paris, by Phil Lawler

By Phil Lawler, Catholic Culture, July 30, 2024

Phil Lawler has been a Catholic journalist for more than 30 years. He has edited several Catholic magazines and written eight books. Founder of Catholic World News, he is the news director and lead analyst at CatholicCulture.org

Yesterday Thomas Mirus offered some good thoughts on how Catholics should respond to blasphemous public acts, such as those in the Olympic opening ceremonies. I would also recommend the simple and straightforward advice from Archbishop Anthony Fisher. For a bit more detail see the reflection by Father Thomas Weinandy, who makes an important point:

Amidst all the condemnations and claims of the display’s offensiveness, what has not been stated, even by Christians, is that those who planned, orchestrated, and perpetrated such a blasphemous portrayal, unless they repent, will not die a happy death.

Having pointed out those excellent thoughts on how Catholics should respond, I shall not add to them. Instead I will focus on how we should not respond:

1. Don’t whine. It’s not you that the program offended; it was blasphemy: an offense against God. If you say, in effect, “I feel insulted!” you give the Paris organizers the opportunity to reply: “Oh, you poor dear; we’re so sorry if you took offense.” Which is indeed what they’ve said. …

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